Exercise gloves with integrated resistance

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus with a first glove ( 22 ) configured to enclose a left hand of a user ( 40 ), a second glove ( 32 ) configured to enclose a right hand of the user, a connection cord ( 14 ) having a first end ( 21 ) and a second end ( 31 ) and comprising elastic material, a first attachment ( 20 ) connecting the first end of the connection cord with the first glove, and a second attachment ( 30 ) connecting the second end of the connection cord with the second glove ( 32 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/168,280, filed Apr. 10, 2009. The entire content of such application is incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to resistance exercise equipment and, more particularly, to boxing training gloves.

BACKGROUND ART

Use of boxing gloves in conjunction with a punching bag as a form of exercise is widely known. Such exercise requires a large punching bag suspended from a chain or a smaller punching bag suspended below a board for speed work.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment, merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention broadly provides an exercise apparatus (10) comprising a first glove (22) configured to enclose and protect a left hand of a user (40), a second glove (32) configured to enclose and protect a right hand of the user, a connection cord (14) having a first end (21) and a second end (31) and comprising elastic material, a first attachment (20) connecting the first end of the connection cord with the first glove, and a second attachment (30) connecting the second end of the connection cord with the second glove (32).

The connection cord may be configured to have an adjustable unstretched length between the first glove and the second glove. A sleeve (19) may slidably enclose at least a portion of the connection cord (14). The first attachment and second attachment may be configured to reversibly connect the ends of the connection cord with the first glove and the second glove, respectively. The first attachment and second attachment may be selected from a group consisting of a snap hook, a buckle, a clasp, a ring, and thread stitches. The first attachment and second attachment may be configured for attachment of a second connection cord in parallel with the connection cord between the first glove and the second glove. The first glove may include a first compression strap (24) about a wrist portion of the first glove and the second glove may include a second compression strap (34) about the wrist portion of the second glove so that the first glove and the second glove will compressively engage the user's wrist during use. The first compression strap and second compression strap may comprise an elastic material. The first glove may also include a first lace (23) and the second glove may include a second lace (33) for tightening the respective gloves around the user's hands or wrists.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the exercise apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-hatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, the present invention provides boxing gloves with integrated elastic resistance elements, a first embodiment of which is generally indicated at 10. Gloves 10 add physical resistance and weight to an individual performing a punching motion, such as during boxing training as depicted in FIG. 2. Exercise activities which may benefit from gloves 10 include boxing related activities such as training on a heavy bag 41, jabbing, hooking and cross punching, as well as more general exercise motions, such as lateral arm raises, chest flies, pushups, running, and jumping.

As shown in FIG. 2, integrated resistance gloves 10 broadly include a first glove 22 that is worn on and fully encloses and protects the left hand of user 40, a second glove 32 that is worn on and fully encloses and protects the right hand of user 40, and an elastic connection cord 14 extending between glove 22 and glove 32.

As depicted in FIG. 1, first glove 22 resembles a conventional boxing glove and includes a lace 23 for tightening glove 22 around user 40's hand and wrist. First glove 22 also includes a compression strap 24 located about the wrist portion of glove 22. Compression strap 24 causes first glove 22 to compressively engage user 40's wrist. By having each glove engage and encompass the user's wrist as well as the user's hand, a force transferred between the user's body and the glove is distributed over a larger area than if each glove only engaged the user's palm. This decreases the maximum strain in each portion of the body in contact with the glove and protects the user's hand from impact.

First glove 22 is attached to elastic connection cord 14 through an attachment 20. In this embodiment, attachment 20 includes a hole 27 in first glove 22 near the rear edge of the opening in glove 22. Hole 27 is sized to allow the first end 21 of compression cord 14 to extend through hole 27 and then loop back against itself. The looped-back portion 25 of the compression cord is then secured against cord 14 with a slidable compression buckle 28. Attachment 20 is thereby configured to reversibly and adjustably attach glove 22 with cord end portion 21. Attachment 20 is configured to not cause discomfort if contact is made with the user's arm or wrist.

Alternatively, attachment 20 may be a snap hook, a universal clasp, a ring, or sewn threads. A universal clasp type attachment may be configured for attachment to a wide variety of glove types and shapes, as well as to non-glove surfaces.

Connection cord 14 is made out of an elastic material, such as rubber. Cord 14 may be selectively made of materials having differing elastic moduli so as to produce the resistance desired. For example, a set of elastic cords of differing elastic moduli may be provided and interchangeably used with gloves 22 and 32 to allow the user to use differing workout resistance. Additionally, the attachment can be configured to allow the connection of a second connection cord in parallel with connection cord 14. A snap hook fastener would allow for this type of multi-cord connection.

In embodiment 10, the length of the portion of connection cord 14 between gloves 22 and 32 is easily adjustable by changing the length of looped-back portion 25. By increasing the length of the looped-back portion 25, the length between first end 21 to second end 31 of connection cord 14 is decreased. The length of cord 14 between gloves 22 and 32 may in turn be increased by shortening the length of lopped-back portion 25. Alternatively, cords of different length may be interchangeably used with gloves 22 and 32.

In this embodiment, connection cord 14 is enclosed in a cylindrical comfort sheath 19 in order to prevent abrasion discomfort on user 40's back during use. Comfort sheath 19 is constructed of soft, low friction material, to reduce the chances of discomfort. Additionally, comfort sheath 19 is designed to absorb perspiration.

A second attachment on the other end of the connection cord is generally indicted at 30 and it includes all of the features and functionality of first attachment 20. Alternatively, second attachment 30 may comprise a snap hook, clasp, buckle, ring or sewn thread stitches.

Second glove 32 is substantially a mirror image of first glove 22 and includes all the features and functionality of first glove 22.

The exercise apparatus is used in the manner shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, with the connection cord 14 extending from first glove 22 to second glove 32 around user 40's back. The length of connection cord 14 should be adjusted as described above such that when user 40's arms are in a ready position close to user 40's chest, the connection cord is minimally stretched or not stretched at all. As user 40 extends one or both of his arms, such as in a forward/punching motion, connection cord 14 is stretched, creating resistance counter to user 40's punching motion and towards user 40's body. While use with a punching bag 41 is shown, apparatus 10 allows the user 40 to perform effective boxing exercises without the use of a punching bag since the resistance of connection cord 14 replaces the inertial resistance of striking the bag. Additionally, the apparatus advantageously exercises user 40's muscles throughout the full range of a punching motion, whereas a punching bag will only offer resistance at the range of when it is struck. Thus, exercise apparatus 10 can be used in conjunction with punching bag 41 or without punching bag 41. Use with a punching bag gives user 40 an increased intensity workout, resulting in faster speed and strength gains then from a workout involving only conventional boxing gloves. Gloves 10 provide not only resistance training, but also provide protection to the user's hands when the user is training with heavy bag 41.

In addition to providing cardiovascular exercise together with strength and speed training, gloves 10 allow for a more simulated boxing workout. In the preferred embodiment, first glove 22 and second glove 32 each weight 8 ounces. However, gloves 22 and 32 could weigh more than 8 ounces. For example, gloves 22 and 32 could each be 12 ounce or 20 ounce gloves. Thus, gloves 22 and 32 allow for a boxing workout that is a closer simulation to competitive boxing by including the weight that the user will experience during actual competition and the same sensations that the user will encounter during actual competition.

Unexpectedly, gloves 10 also assist in training user's to keep their hands in the proper boxing position. Boxers will often let their hands and arms drop or spread apart in competition, which leaves them open to a punch. Unexpectedly, gloves 10 help build strength, endurance and train the user's arms to maintain a proper position. The resistance applied by cord 14 on the user's hands tends to force them to separate and move from in front of the face. By having to counter this force and constantly strain to keep the hands together and in front of the user's face when training with gloves 10, the user builds up strength and muscle memory in the arms with respect to their proper position, thereby improving endurance with respect to the proper boxing stance. In competition, the user then more readily maintains the hands and arms in the proper boxing position.

While a preferred form of the glove resistance exercise apparatus has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims. 

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a first glove configured to enclose and protect a left hand of a user; a second glove configured to enclose and protect a right hand of said user; a connection cord having a first end and a second end and comprising an elastic material; a first attachment connecting said first end of said connection cord with said first glove; and a second attachment connecting said second end of said connection cord with said second glove.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection cord is configured to have an adjustable unstretched length between said first glove and said second glove.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a sleeve slidably enclosing at least a portion of said connection cord.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first attachment is configured to reversibly connect said first end of said connection cord and said first glove, and said second attachment is configured to reversibly connect said second end of said connection cord and said second glove.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first attachment and said second attachment are selected from a group consisting of a snap hook, a buckle, a ring, and thread stitches.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first attachment and said second attachment are a clasp.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein said clasp is a universal clasp configured to reversibly connect to a range of glove types and non-glove surfaces.
 8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first and second attachment are configured for attachment of a second connection cord in parallel with said connection cord between said first glove and said second glove.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a first compression strap about a wrist portion of said first glove and configured to compressively engage a user's wrist, and a second compression strap about a wrist portion of said second glove and configured to compressively engage a user's wrist.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9, wherein said compression strap comprises an elastic material.
 11. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a first lace configured for tightening said first glove around said user's left wrist and a second lace configured for tightening said second glove around said user's right wrist. 